Death Roll?

[MasSalvaje]

My female T. s. similus started acting weird today. She always seems wired and will lash at anything however today as I was cleaning cages she took it to the extreme. When I would get close to her she would literally start flipping until she went into a full on death roll with her mouth wide open. I picked her up and she seemed to calm down a bit but she would still whip her head if I made any sudden movements.

Has anyone seen this behavior before. She eats unscented f/t pinkies and seems to be doing well apart from her latest antics. I added more cover to her enclosure in addition to the 2 hides she already had as well as put her enclosre in a room that has less foot traffic to see if it could be stress related.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

-Thomas

[adamanteus]

That's weird. Maybe something has just really stressed her today? Perhaps a couple of days totally undisturbed, let her settle again.

[MasSalvaje]

Thanks James I will do that!

I called the Vet and he told me that I should wait a day or two to take her in because if it is stress related the exam would only add to the problem. He also mentioned if I notice her doing it with out being disturbed or any prolonged mouth gaping than I should bring her in asap.

-Thomas

[drache]

that's weird
one of mine tried eating my pants yesterday - maybe it's the moon

[MasSalvaje]

that's weird
one of mine tried eating my pants yesterday - maybe it's the moon

You could be right.... That would explain the wolf hairs I randomly find in the enclosure.

-Thomas

[guidofatherof5]

Best of luck with her, Thomas.
You and your snake are in our prayers.
Please keep us informed.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Hey, that is exactly, to the T what happened to my female similis before she died. She was flipping out, spazzing, I actually walked into the snakeroom and heard he doing it in her tub. Upon trying to examine her she went into those rolls, and was flailing her head wildly about. She would open her mouth wide and leave it partially open and sideways and repeatedly strike, but it seemed to me that she was not all "there" her eyes just kind of stared and she was just flipping mad. I would put her on my floor and she would just wildly roll around in full body rotations while madly shaking her tail.... it was horrible! Then she started to have convulsions and seizures and at that point she went into the freezer. She basically was taking reactions to ANY stimuli to the ultimate extreme. She was only a few months old, and healthy as an ox from Scott's 08 breedings. My male is still doing awesome!!!!! Never saw anything like it in my life though!!

[drache]

I wonder . . .
perhaps some snakes are born with neurological defects that don't show up right away?

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Maybe.... who really knows though?!?! could have been a totally freak thing... or maybe just a few snakes from that clutch ended up with the short end of the stick! My male from that same clutch is doing really well though... now a young adult and I have an 09 female on the way!!

[MasSalvaje]

Well this was a hard one to swallow but I had to put my female similis down today. She continued to get worse and showed no signs of any hope at all. It was a complete mystery to the vet so he couldn't offer any suggestions except a genetic fluke or a head injury of some sort.

I have had to put down other snakes before but this was a tough one. This similis is what got the Tham fire really burning in me. I have to thank her for that!

-Thomas